Gezicht op de Marais waar Karel de Stoute gedood is 1650

This print, "View of the Marais where Charles the Bold was killed," was made by Israel Silvestre using etching techniques. Look closely and you can see the fine lines created by the etching needle as it cuts through the metal plate. Etching allows for incredible detail, as seen in the landscape and figures. The crispness of line suggests a very deliberate, controlled process; Silvestre was no doubt a master of his medium. Consider how the printmaking process itself adds a layer of meaning. Prints like this were relatively easy to reproduce, and served as a means of disseminating information and perspectives. The making of this image speaks to the broader social role of art in circulating narratives about power and historical events.